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The Ashburton Guardian VOLUME CCLXX

ASHBURTON, NEW ZEALAND: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

TWENTY PAGES

YEARS

135

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Proud to serve your district for 135 years Today is our Birthday. 135 years old. Happy Birthday to us! Ashburton’s oldest surviving business, the Ashburton Guardian, has been serving its community for 135 years. I take great pride in that fact. As publisher and fourth generation owner of the Ashburton Guardian, the business of providing local news to the community has never been an easy journey. The newspaper industry has experienced good times, great times, and more recently, difficult times. Change has been constant. Innovation has been crucial. But to survive, and thrive in the local news business, one thing has always remained constant; Local news comes first. The Guardian was a vastly different place when I first joined the staff in 1974. Reporters used typewriters. Sub-editors used pencils and paper. The news cycle was all about compiling stories and publishing every 24 hours. Today the cycle is every hour, every minute, as we race to upload the latest local story to our news website. We are in the news business, no longer, simply, the newspaper business. During my 40 year career, I’ve experienced many more changes than my forefathers. In the past few years the Guardian has taken some significant steps to ensure it remains a vital part of its readers’ day - Delivery of the paper converted from afternoon to morning. The format of the paper changed from broadsheet to compact, or tabloid. And our news web site now provides regular updates of local news. However, the key cornerstones of our business remain unchanged: Be the trusted source of local information, take a stand on local issues, champion the community’s cause and provide a

platform for readers to have their say. However, the responsibility I take most seriously is to the Guardian family. The hundreds of staff, who have worked, then left, then returned, then left and in some cases returned again. It astounds me how the Guardian’s culture has attracted former staff back, time and time again. I know present and former staff are all proud of the Guardian’s achievements. The Guardian has served a vital role in the history of the district and this supplement you’re reading shows the strong relationship between the paper and its district’s past. However, without you the reader we would have no advertisers, and without both readers and advertisers we’d have no newspaper. Thank you to our many loyal readers and advertisers, we are proud to be the Independent voice of Mid Canterbury and committed to remain an enduring icon in the Ashburton district for a long time to come. Bruce Bell Managing Director Milestone in a world of change It’s a wonderful achievement to be celebrating 135 years of the Ashburton Guardian. The world of newspapers has certainly changed over this time and as we advance with all things technology based it’s good to see that we still love the tangible feel of picking up and reading a daily newspaper. I’d like to personally take this opportunity to thank all the staff at the Ashburton Guardian, without their huge

efforts and commitment we would not manage to produce the daily newspaper along with the monthly supplements, Guardian Farming, Dairy Focus and YOU magazine plus guardianonline. Working in a newspaper environment is definitely fast paced and reactive and the thirst for local news that this community has keeps our paper at the heart of the region. Alongside great staff we have excellent support from the local advertisers. Businesses and business owners that are not only clients, but friends to the Guardian, without the loyalty from local advertisers producing our publications would be impossible. The recent Toss the Boss promotion highlighted the wonderful team work between, Sky Diving Kiwis, Experience Mid Canterbury, Hoops on Hokonui, Ashburton Licencing Trust and Ashburton Guardian. Businesses came together to create a fantastic campaign that got the backing of the whole town. It’s a testament to the relationships that are built in Mid Canterbury and what results can be achieved – especially when the focus was simply fun & excitement. We live in a great town with great people, the sense of community is strong and we are proud to be able to bring people together and provide a credible news source for everyone. Here’s to the next 135 years ! Desme Daniels General Manager Supported by you This newspaper is testament to the optimism and strength of your province and

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Ashburton Guardian Editor Stu Oldham, Managing Director Bruce Bell, and General Manager Desme Daniels community. The Ashburton Guardian marks its 135th birthday today, acknowledging a milestone that sets it apart from many newspapers in Australasia. Your newspaper is unusual not for its longevity – it’s old, but not the oldest – but for reasons that reflect some of the strengths of Mid Canterbury. The Guardian remains a daily newspaper in a world where newspapers in regions of comparable size are published no more than a few times a week. It is family owned in a country where most daily newspapers are now owned by foreign investors and, in contrast to others, it is still proudly produced by people who live here. It is staunchly independent where so

many are owned by so few and it was staunchly local before “local” became a marketing buzzword. All this is so because of your unwavering appetite to know all there is to know about Mid Canterbury and because – by-and-large – you trust us to tell your stories. It is also so because advertisers choose to support a local business that reaches a local people who, in turn, choose to support them. In this global age, local newspapers help unite disparate people and places to reinforce a sense of community. For 135 years, that sense of community has reinforced your Ashburton Guardian. Stu Oldham Editor

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Most important meeting in 50 years The bones of Mid Cantebury’s deteriorating economic state were laid bare yesterday in a meeting described by Ashburton’s mayor, Mr Geoff Geering, as “the most important meeting to be held in Ashburton in the last 50 years.” Several hundred people packed the Holyoake Auditorium using stairways and the auditorium foyer as overflow seating, to hear community leaders speak on Mid Canterbury, its present and its future. Invited speakers and the general public were vocal in pin-pointing economic problems but were equally innovative in their suggestions for revitalising the area. Urban-rural differences appeared to be put to one side as the audience paid close attention to speakers and raised a number of thought-provoking suggestions themselves. Speakers representing Chamber of Commerce, tourism, Federated Farmers, retailers, Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, unions, Ashburton College (staff and students), Government, Social Department of Labour and the National Party, gave a number of views. Most, however, identified similar factors as the cause of Mid Canterbury’s economic malaise – high interest rates, and Government policies. Again a unity was displayed in identifying the major flow-on effect from these factors within Mid Canterbury - unemployment. Employment officer from the Department of Labour, Mr Les Naughton, told the meeting that Ashburton had 660 registered unemployed people at present, representing seven per cent of its workforce. Taking into account the number of seasonal workers registered, Mr Naughton

A section of the large crowd that packed the Holyoake Auditorium for the meeting on Mid Canterbury’s economic future. said unemployment had doubled in the last two years. The people he had on his books were all people who wanted to work and to work within their own town, he said. Representing the Department of Social Welfare in Ashburton, Mr Rod Beavan indicated that $4 million came into Mid Canterbury annually in the form of benefits. “We are in the unfortunate position of being the growth industry and our client group is widening when our ideal world would be to have no clients,” he said. He suggested that if Government paid Ashburton directly the amount paid out in benefits to the area, unemployment could immediately be wiped out. In spite of the levels of unemployment, Mr Beavan said Mid Canterbury people should not sink into depression. “We

must harness our ideas and ideals and look ahead positively.” He listed a number of possible ideas to boost business in the area. “Mid Canterbury needs contractors, not detractors, action not inaction and thinkers not just social drinkers. We must get off our butts and get on with it.” His message for the people of Mid Canterbury was to “bury gloom and doom and say, how about Mid Canterbury booms – and soon.” Following the theme of unemployment, Ashburton College counsellor Mr Bevan Bain spoke on the difficult situation facing young people at school who were looking for jobs. At present Ashburton College had 93 students who were only at school because they could not find work, and at the end of the academic year 250 would leave,

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many without, work to go to. Two college students told the meeting how they felt when they were in the school system, waiting for a job to turn up. Chamber of Commerce president, Mr Lindsay Holland, said that the monetary situation facing the business sector was “pretty disturbing.” In the 1950s Ashburton was in the top 12 electorates for income level, and now it was 92nd out of 96, Mr Holland said. The low profitability in the farming sector was flowing on into the urban area and resulting in unemployment, businesses closing, and people moving away from the area. “And it is a real worry because we are losing skilled people and when things pick up we won’t be able to replace those skills,” he said.

NEW TRI-WEEKLY MORNING PAPER THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN PRICE – TWOPENCE! PUBLISHED ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. The Guardian is intended to meet the want in the County of Ashburton of a paper specially devoted to the agricultural and pastoral interests. It comes into existence in response to the expressed desire of a numerous section of the influential farmers, merchants, and other settlers in the country districts, and it purposes to supply and excellent compendium of the news of the day, derived from the most trustworthy sources. Arrangements have been made with able correspondents in every district in the County to supply intelligence of all events of interest occurring in their locality, while advantage will also be taken of the great facilities now given by the telegraph for securing the latest news from all parts of the colony, and, through Reuter’s Agency, of summaries of intelligence from all parts of the world. The Guardian will be thoroughly independent, and appears with its hands untied, and in no way trammelled by the influence of any party, its aim being, while the progress of the farming interest in the County has first place in its desires, to secure the greatest good for the greatest number. In politics it will give an honest support to thoroughly Liberal measures, and will be loyal to any Government, who, having the country’s confidence, is prepared to legislate upon a wise and liberal platform, and is capable of administering public affairs with prudence, honesty, and ability. September 30, 1878

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY OPENS The opening of the water supply for the Borough yesterday was not, taking it all round, an affair of great importance to the colony. Many diggers have undertaken quite as a large a work for the purpose of bringing water to a claim that promised well. But as said by more than one speaker at the ceremony, and the banquet that followed, the value of the works must not be reckoned that way, nor at a money price. The new water supply is the first step to a greater one, when that shall become necessary and no doubt it will in time – one that shall include a high pressure scheme to provide pure water for drinking purposes. The great value of the works just inaugurated to the township is the power to preserve the people’s health that they give to the Borough Council; and the means they supply for the throughout draining off all the impurities that must necessarily accumulate more or less in a

town so flat as our own, and be attended in their accumulation and non-removal with more or less bad effects upon the health of the community. In the direction of the purer atmosphere the works will confer one great boon in itself, while their development for fire prevention will be another not much less valuable. Yesterday was a half-holiday in the township from twelve o’clock, the occasion being, as everyone knows, the inauguration of the water supply that has just been completed by the Borough Council. From an early hour in the morning the township showed signs of holiday making. From a great many roofs bits of bunting flowed, and at the reservoir Councillor Roberts, with the assistance of Mr. R. Elson, had erected an arch of evergreens over the entrance way, in the bow of which arch was the inscription – “Success to the Ashburton Water

Supply”, which right across the corner of the reservoir, and directly above the “water-tap”, was stretched a line of flags suspended from two strong poles. The water in the reservoir had risen in the blow of Saturday night – and with the northwest wind that had blown, not with great force to be sure, but rather strongly for all that - to a considerable height. In fact on Sunday it had overflowed the banks a little. Yesterday, however, the water was just under the lip of the overflow pipe, and the full reservoir has quite the appearance of a lake. The day was not perhaps so propitious for an outdoor ceremony as could have been wished, as a somewhat stiff breeze blew just at the time when a calm would have been most acceptable. Still, we were not subjected to a hurricane, nor even a gale, and the people of Ashburton do not now, with their experience of a dusty, gusty nor-wester, take

badly with a moderate breeze. A little before twelve o’clock people began to move, and the bugle sound for the Volunteers to turn out, was also the signal for all who intended to witness the ceremony to be stirring. The bugle sound also brought out the Ashburton Fire Brigade, who paraded with their engine drawn by four horses from Captain Wilke’s stable, and the “boss” tooled his team around town as if to the manner born. Lieut. Dolman was all there as the managing director of matters, and the services of both the brigade and the volunteers were appreciated by the public and the Mayor, to the extent of gratis pumping on the part of the former, and “shouting” on the part of the latter, when more toasts were drunk and compliments paid then we can find room to publish.

In Brief Ashburton Borough Council meets for ﬁnal time The Ashburton Borough Council last night met for the final time, after a history spanning 111 years. The mayor, Geoff Geering, spoke to councillors, past councillors and members of the public on the passing of the council into the pages of history. “While it is sad in many ways that we’re pulling down the curtain on the Ashburton Borough Council, I believe there are great challenges out there for the Ashburton District Council to tackle.” He said. “I wonder what was going through the minds of Thomas Bullock and the members of the borough council when they sat for the first time; I wonder what their aspiration were, and if they knew Ashburton would grow to the size it has,” he said. October 3, 1989

September 28, 1880

Ashburton’s new civic building formally opened The acquisition of the Ashburton Borough Council’s new administration building marked a “milestone in the history of Ashburton,” said the Mayor, Mr D. O. Digby, at the official opening of the building on Saturday. The new civic building was “designed for the convenience and use of Ashburton citizens,” he said. “It is therefore appropriate for me, on this notable occasion to thank you, the ratepayers and citizens of Ashburton, on behalf of past and present councils for your support and co-operation over the years,” Mr Digby told those assembled at

the opening. He said he felt honoured at having had the privilege of declaring the building officially open, and he thanked everyone for being there. “Your presence at this function is appreciated, because it indicates you are interested in the administration of the borough and are concerned for its progress,” Mr Digby said. “Today, we see a splendid new building, which will be admired by all Asburtonians. Already, there is a keen interest and a pride developing since the finishing touches have been carried out.

“Council has made a point of inviting to this function all ex-councillors and wives and those associated with borough administration in the past. Mayors from surrounding boroughs and municipalities, present members of the County Council and their local bodies in Ashburton, heads of Government departments, organisations and youth groups. The Mayor mentioned notable councillors of the past and present, including Mr A. A. Todd who served from 1941 to 1944. April 8, 1974

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

RECORD FALL OF SNOW No electric power, no water, no telephone communication outside the borough and only a limited service in it – these were the principal effects in Ashburton of one of the severest falls of snow ever experienced in the Ashburton Borough and County. Transport services are disorganised, although a goods train from Dunedin reached Ashburton at about 9 a.m. today. The snow is the climax of one of the wettest half-years in the history of the district. It commenced at about 8.30 p.m. yesterday in the borough and in the afternoon in the foothills. It was up to 16 inches deep in open spaces in the Domain. The snow in the eastern part of the borough was a foot deep in the streets and in open sections – west of the line it was, if anything, a few inches deeper. There were drifts up to four feet deep in the sheltered places. It is the heaviest fall the borough has experienced in over 40 years, residents of long standing having averred that a fall of nine inches on June 10, 1935, was the heaviest for over 30 years. The next heaviest falls in the borough in late years were six inches on

Heed the call Motorists who, on hearing the siren of the Ashburton fire engine, fail to stop and pull to one side will in future be prosecuted under the traffic regulations on the ground of obstructing the progress of the engine. A good deal of trouble has been caused in the past by the motorists chasing after the engine and even racing in front of it, when it has been on its way to a fire, but the Transport Department has taken up the question and will strictly enforce the law from now on. December 22, 1939

Many families spent a sleepless night, as they anxiously awaited what the morning would bring. In some cases it was heartbreak as the capricious wind, had picked out isolated homes. Ripping off their roofs, smashing windows and, in some cases slicing sheets of corrugated iron through walls.

Decimal Currency Decimal Currency was ushered in quietly in Ashburton this morning–the morning of D.C. Day. Business generally was reported slow, but no major problem arose, with most shops and offices seeming well prepared for the currency conversion. For many the hours of preparation must have been an anti-climax in reality. Apart from one early customer at the Post Office, who made a purchase three minutes after the doors opened at 8.30 a.m., only three others came in in the first half hour. Although shop assistants greeted customers’ money tendered as decimal, they had no decimal currency to offer as change. However, people accepted the change in a light hearted fashion, with no apparent fear of profiteering or the giving of wrong change. There was a general air that conversion was rather fun, and people found it exciting to be in the centre of a piece of New Zealand history.

August 2, 1978

July 10, 1967

Another massive snow storm hit Mid Canterbury in 2006 July 31, 1939, and between six and eight inches two years ago. All power went off at about 2.30 a.m., and many people were roused by what they thought was lightning Actually the flashes they saw were from breaking power lines – great, blue flashes that last-

ed up to three seconds and lit up rooms with a weird, uncanny light. Except for a goods train from Dunedin which arrived at 9 a.m., Ashburton was isolated as far as railway traffic was concerned. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the train into the sta-

tion, the engine finding the combination of upgrade, slippery rails and deep snow almost too much. It would charge the snow, go back several yards and then try again, with several men using shovels. July 14, 1945

INCREDIBLE FORCE OF SAVAGE WINDS

Trees about 10ft in circumference, split lengthwise, two-inch thick tubular steel twisted out of shape, steel structures bent at angles, gave passing observers some idea of the ferocity of the winds that hit Ashburton on Thursday night. It is estimated that on some occasions the winds reached 90 knots. Although no fatalities or injures have so far been reported, two people had

In Brief

narrow escapes from death and many reported “near misses” from flying objects and collapsing structures. Power throughout the county failed at 12.30 a.m. as the gale-force winds blew down trees and power lines and draped sheets of iron and other objects over streets and paddocks. One of the buildings hit by the wind was the council chamber which suffered

a stripped roof a fate it shared with many buildings throughout the country. Most damage in the town however was to private homes, but in the county reports largely centered round buildings, silos, farm machinery and damage by falling trees. Some people were forced to evacuate their homes, and take refuge in friends’ houses, hotels and motels.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

DISASTER AT SEA

In Brief

A Rakaia farmer, Mr L. R. Kingsbury, who was washed overboard 500 yards from shore in a rubber liferaft from which several people were lost, described the tragedy which struck the inter-island ferry, Wahine, as “terrible.” Mr Kingsbury, braved the breakers to go back time and time again to bring other survivors ashore from the rafts. “It was terrible,” said Mr Kingsbury. “The raft capsized in the first line of breakers. I went overboard then, and so did a lot of others. “This was about 500 yards offshore. There were breakers from then on until we got to the beach. The raft overturned three times.” April 11, 1968

Restoration carried in Ashburton

Necessary three-ﬁfths majority secured By a majority of 392 votes, the people in the special Ashburton area yesterday carried restoration. This was the margin over the required three-fifths majority. The proposal for local trust was carried by a majority of 971 votes, this issue requiring a bare majority only. In two national proposals submitted, the majority in favour of 6 o’clock closing as against 10 o’clock was 5344, while the voting for a system of off-course betting was 5703 in favour and 3466 against. It was not possible to obtain any comparative figures in regard to the polling, but the figures indicate that a great majority of people who were entitle to vote did so. In the early part of the day polling was comparatively light, but between

noon and 2 p.m. clerks in most of the booths experienced a fairly solid rush. From then on until evening the stream of voters was steady, and between 5 and 7 p.m. all the booths were working at topspeed. The heaviest polling at any booth was Technical College No. 2, but No. 1 booth in the same building was very little behind. There were three booths in the Borough Council Chambers, and returns from these were also heavy. The first return was received by the Electoral Officer, Mr W. Haymes, at 7.10, this coming from Lauriston. The Greenstreet figures came to hand six minutes later, and Belfield at 7.19. From this point on Mr Haymes was kept hard at in, and he did not have a respite until about 9.15 by which time slightly less than half the returns had been received.

History of Licencing in Ashburton Ashburton, which has virtually been “dry” for 47 years, has become “wet” as a result of yesterday’s poll. No-licence was carried in the Ashburton licensing district in 1902. At the poll that year the voting was:-That the number of licences in the district continue, 1734; that the number of licences be reduced, 2489; that no-licence be introduced in the district, 2870. The number of votes recorded at the polls totalled 4625. The last poll at Ashburton on local restoration was 1925, when 3920 votes were in favour of restoration and 3391 were against it. As there was not the required three-fifths majority, the district remained “dry”.

About 9.30, two hours and a half after polling ceased, half the booths had sent in their figures, but the final totals were not available until 10 o’clock. The last figures to be received were those from the two Allenton booths. A word of praise is due to the staff of the Ashburton telephone exchange, who handled the calls from the country districts in a most efficient manner. With so many polling clerks in country areas desiring to reach the Electoral Officer, it was no small task for the exchange to hold lines, but no sooner had one call been attended to than the next was brought in. One of the surprising features on the election was the extraordinary number of informal votes cast.

70 jobs lost at mill The Government is partly to blame for the loss next year of over 70 jobs when the Alford Forest Mill in Ashburton will close, the Labour party’s regional development spokesman, Mr Mike Moore said today. Restructuring by Alliance Textiles Ltd, owners of the mill is the reason given for the imminent closure, Mr Moore criticised the government for carrying out restructuring of the nation’s textile industry while at the same time importing textiles from Korea and Taiwan. December 19, 1980 Typhoid Fever We are informed that in all there are 16 cases of typhoid fever in the town and suburbs. It is therefore satisfactory to know that the Borough Council has decided to take best steps in its power, by employing extra labour to keep the street channels clear and clean. It may be pointed out that there are many channels which have not enough flow to keep them clear. March 9, 1896 A sad loss Poor old “Jack”, Mr. E. Cookson’s wellknown horse, has had to be sent out of the world, the weight of over 30 years having been too heavy for him. Jack has been enjoying a well-earned easy old age; but each winter as it came round seemed more severe upon the old fellow than its predecessor, and a year ago his owner gave orders to have him destroyed. The order was easily given, but its fulfilment was not so easy. The worn out roadster was so well-known in the district that not a man could be come across who could find it in his heart to shoot old Jack. June 30, 1891

March 10, 1949

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Scenes of destruction peppered Christchurch after the desctrucive February 22, 2011 earthquake

QUAKE OUR DARKEST DAY

At least 100 people remain trapped in the ruins of Christchurch tonight following a devastating earthquake which claimed at least 65 lives. Prime Minister John Key announced last night that “at least 65 people have lost their lives” and noted the rescuers were still scrabbling through the ruins of collapsed buildings looking for injured and trapped survivors - and bodies. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said more than 100 people were trapped in about six sites - but it was possible more were trapped in individual houses. Police have reported “multiple fatalities” at several locations in the downtown area, including where two buses were crushed by falling buildings. Yesterday’s earthquake jolted the city at 12.51pm, the worst possible time with the central city packed with lunch-

hour shoppers, office workers and many school children. Radio and television reported damage in the town of Lyttelton was severe. The Pyne Gould Corp building, several storeys high, folded up like a pack of cards and rescuers were still trying to find trapped occupants last night. Up to 50 people were said to be in the wreckage - alive or dead. Rescuers were trying to get people out of the Canterbury TV building in Madras St, while firefighters battled a fire there. The famous cathedral in the city’s downtown square which stood undamaged last September lost its spire today and suffered heavy damage. Television showed blood-splattered survivors scrambling from downed buildings or crawling from under shat-

tered shop verandahs that had fallen on to city footpaths. Mr Parker, lauded for his behaviour and slick civic control in the wake of last year’s quake, said the damage today was much more severe. “The city centre is like a war zone and damage is immense. Everybody needs to understand that this is going to be a day of very black news,” he said. He declared a state of emergency, adding Christchurch and Canterbury would need help from the rest of the country. February 23, 2011

‘I thought I was going to die’ Colleen Glasson thought she was going to die on Tuesday. As the former Ashburton woman sat trapped on the 11th floor of the Forsyth

Barr building with five other workmates, she surprised even herself with how calm she was as the prepared to spend the night there. Or worse. Thankfully they were rescued around 5pm by a crane and her husband, Chris, was waiting for her when she was rescued, having run from his shop at the other end of Sydenham. She said she was due to meet her sister by the Cathedral for lunch around 1 pm but was caught on the phone with her boss. “Then it hit. I fell off my chair and went straight under the table and just waited. Everything was just covered in white and we lost the stairwell so it was just the matter of waiting, which we did for about four hours until a crane plucked us out. “From where we were, we could see all

the devastation and could see people in trouble,” she said. In the building, nobody panicked and they had even thought about what to do if they were stuck overnight. She praised one workmate, Tania Webb, who had the presence of mind to grab her hard drive before getting in the crane to safety. “She does the wages for Rosebank Rest Home and Hospital and couldn’t stand the thought of those people not getting paid. She was so concerned about them when others would be thinking about themselves. “It reminded me of a war zone with all the sirens and I certainly won’t forget some of the things I saw,” she said. February 24, 2011

Established 1991 Just like the Ashburton Guardian we are proud to be locally owned and operated, congratulations on 135 years of news. 126 Dobson Street,Ashburton Phone: 03 308 2059 | Mobile: 0274 326 847 | mcmullanent@xtra.co.nz

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Ashburton has royal day

The visit to Ashburton of her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, so eagerly awaited, particularly by the children, is now a part of history. The assembled thousands – it was a concourse much smaller than that which greeted the Royal visitors in many other parts of the country – roared themselves almost hoarse in their desire to make the welcome as tumultuous as possible and they certainly succeeded. Every vantage point from the racecourse, along West Street, in the Domain, and also along the route traversed by the Royal party on their way out of the town, over the bridge and through Tinwald to Longbeach was occupied. The past has not provided any comparable event, nor can the future be expected to do so. It was a great day for the adults, but it was a greater one still for the children, and the real pity of it was that the arrangements precluded her Majesty and the Duke from driving through the ranks of the assembled children. The public, too, really let themselves go, and so it was that while only a comparative few had the privilege of being

introduced to her Majesty and the Duke, the thousands who came merely to catch a glimpse of the Queen became an integral part of the welcome. If there was a disappointing feature it was the fact that the visit was of such short duration. Against that it has to be remembered that Ashburton had the honour of welcoming her Majesty, whereas many other places had to be omitted from the itinerary altogether. Humming with the presence of surging, excited thousands, Ashburton to-day really had a day to remember. The infiltration began quite early this morning, many people being prepared to spend some hours at the spots they had selected in order to be sure of getting a good view. Not a few had provided themselves with boxes and seats in order to lessen the strain of the long wait, and they also took the precaution of providing themselves with food and something to drink. To help pass the time, too, not a few people were to be seen immersed in books and reading material of all sorts.

In Brief Diana dies Ashburton people began laying flowers in memory of Diana Princess of Wales at Ashburton’s clock tower this morning. Ashburton Mayor Murray Anderson said people had requested a place to leave floral tributes to the princess. The clock tower was an appropriate place, and the action one he supported, he said. September 1, 1997 Movie rules stay A recommendation from the Finance Committee that commercial screening of ‘’G” certificate films should be allowed on Anzac Day was squashed by the Ashburton Borough council on a split vote last night. Immediately afterward a second recommendation, that a request for Sunday cinema should be again turned down, was also defeated after Cr M, G. Wall successfully moved an amendment to have the matter referred back to the committee to secure an opinion from the Ministers’ Association. April 7, 1964

22 January, 1954

When the first “space balls” arrived in Mid Canterbury it was speculated they were debris from a Russian space satellite which disintegrated on April 3, 1972 – one day before the discoveries. Inquiries spread to the United Nations, but no country has ever laid claim to the mysterious objects.

Milk refused One South Island dairy company has announced it may not accept milk supplies from purchasers of mortgagee-sale properties. The surprise decision came from the Temuka Dairy Co-operative yesterday. Co-operative general manager Volker Rademacher said this was to ensure that all the right formalities were taken and all other options had been looked at. He said the co-operative’s actions hopefully would encourage financiers to ensure these options were investigated before a sale was proceeded with.

October 26, 1978

September 27, 1986

Longbeach, the home of Mr and Mrs J. H. Grigg , where her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will from to-morrow enjoy a few days’ rest.

ANOTHER ONE! MYSTERY OF THE SPACE BALL Mr Lovett was in the particular paddock only two days before his siting and is sure the ball was not there then. The latest ball is 16 centimetres (6 ½ inches), in diameter, and was sent by the Ashburton police to the National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch tests. However, the present laboratory director, Mr Hugh Atkinson, said there is no trace of any residual radiational activity.

Another “space ball” has been found in Mid Canterbury. It was discovered on Mr John Lovett’s property, at Eiffelton on Tuesday morning, and resembles those which landed in the area six years ago. However, the fact that this ball was found in a grass paddock and was perfectly clean, makes doubtful the idea that it may have arrived six years ago with the others and lain undetected until now.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

EVEREST IS CONQUERED

According to an extraordinary message from the New Zealand Press Association in Wellington to-day, “The Times” in London to-day announced that Colonel

Hunt’s Everest expedition had reached the peak on May 29. Fourteen months ago, 33-year-old Mr Hillary, an apiarist of Papakura, 20 miles from Auckland, made a prophecy. When asked what he would do if ever he scaled Everest, he discounted flag-waving and cheering. There would be no celebration. “I would be too exhausted,” he said. But he made plain his driving ambition to get there some day. When he left to join this, his fourth Himalayan climb, he was as determined as ever. With him went the best equipment available - and a faded, battered umbrella - to protect its six-foot owner from the searing heat of Lower Nepal and shelter him from the wind-driven rain. Native sherpas would remember it because Hillary carried it with the British recon-

naissance expedition round the base of Everest in 1951. This “mountain man” is a familiar figure around Papakura. He covered many miles on roads and in rough country there, toughening up for the big climb. And with him on his final assault may well have been the large New Zealand ice axe he prefers to the light Englishstyle axe carried by other members of the party–his “battle-axe,” Hillary calls it. Quite naturally the world acclaims E.P. Hillary’s feat in climbing to the top of Mount Everest, something which has hitherto defied man’s efforts. In no country of the world, however, excepting possibly Nepal, will there be feelings of greater pride than in New Zealand. It has been the ambition of many men to reach the top of the world – in fact,

for 32 years expedition after expedition has tried, and failed, although some have gone very close to success. In no single instance was courage lacking. The best equipment available at the time was used, but the mountains defied everyone. Perhaps it was this very fact which has spurred men to renew their efforts. Colonel John Hunt’s expedition has at long last succeeded in beating Everest’s protective barrier of altitude, snow and weather, and in acclaiming Edmund Hillary’s feat of planting three flags on the pinnacle of the world’s highest mountain, sight must not be forgotten on the part played by team-work in the ultimate team work achieved. June 4, 1953

MAN WALKS ON MOON

Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong to-day became the first man to walk on the moon. He placed his left foot on the lunar surface at 2.56 p.m. (New Zealand time). Nine minutes after he left the lander, Armstrong placed his left foot on the moon, becoming the first man to tread on extraterrestrial soil. About 20 minutes later, his astronaut companion, Edwin Aldrin, left the moon lander and began his descent of the ladder. Both men collected bulk non-selective samples of moon material, consisting of about 50 pounds of dirt and rock fragments. Both men were given the go-ahead to de-pressurise their spacecraft cabin prior to going outside for a walk on the moon at 2.02p.m. (New Zealand time).

The moon men’s voices are transmitted to their spacecraft by very high frequency radios contained in the backpacks of their spacesuits, and automatically relayed to the ground. As the two astronauts – both now using their portable life-support system back-packs – waited for the cabin pressure to drop, one commented: - “It takes a bit of time for it to go down.” At 2.47 p.m. (N.Z.) Neil Armstrong slid carefully through the hatch of his Eagle moon lander feet first and started down the nine steps of its ladder toward the lunar surface, the United Press International reported. Then Armstrong carefully crawled through the 32-inch square hatchway, moving on to the ship’s “front porch”,

Queen dies The sad news we publish to-day will create a more profound sensation throughout the civilised world than any information flashed over the electric lines has done since their establishment. The death of the Sovereign of a Great Power is at all times a matter of interest to civilisation, but the interest is generally speculative as to what effect the event may have upon the affairs of the nations and upon the peace of the world. The death of the Queen of England is, however, not regarded by other nations in the light of a disturbing element in international relation, but as the passing away of a sovereign who had for more than half a century been an ideal monarch of the greatest and most progressive people the world has seen. Queen Victoria’s reign over Great Britain and her dependencies has no parallel in the records of the past. January 23, 1901 New Post Oﬃce Variously described as a milestone in the history of Ashburton, a red letter day for the district and an expression of confidence in the future of the town and county, the construction of Ashburton’s new £104,000 post office was officially blessed yesterday with the laying of its foundation stone. Mr K. C. Cooper, who spoke at the ceremony as president of the Ashburton Rotary Club, saw the new building as the Postal Department’s contribution toward the tremendous progress of Ashburton. During his 14 years in the district, Mr Cooper had noted that Ashburton was “really on the march forward.”

while Aldrin guided him. “Houston,” Armstrong’s voice called out in the first human communication from the moon. “Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Later Aldrin sent a message “to ask every person listening wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.” “That’s one small step for man but one giant leap for mankind,” he said as he stepped on the lunar surface. “I’m going to step off the module now,” Armstrong said, as he set his left foot on the moon at 2.56 p.m. (New Zealand).

November 23, 1963

July 21, 1969

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

U.S. UNDER SIEGE New York, Sept 11: Panic and terror gave way to anger and disbelief on Tuesday as New Yorkers mourned the massive loss of life after two hijacked commercial planes slammed into the World Trade Center’s twin towers, which later crumpled to the ground in a heap of concrete, flames and ash. Thousands of hysterical people poured into the streets of lower Manhattan, choking on the soot that billowed throughout a 20-block radius around the collapsed towers in the immediate aftermath of the suspected terrorist attack. “Debris was coming down all around,’’ said Scott Kellan, a corporate bond trader at Garban Securities in one of the landmark 110-story towers, where some 40,000 people work. ‘’People were jumping out of buildings. This steel plank plummeted down right in front of me and knocked this guy down.’’ By late afternoon, the evacuated Wall Street area was a surreal ghost town, devoid of the hustle and bustle of pinstripes and briefcases. In their place were ambu-

lances, police cars and school buses filled with firemen. Seven hours after the attacks, great plumes of smoke still floated high above the once-immutable skyline of New York City. One building in the trade centre complex was still burning. From the soot-covered downtown financial district to Times Square and the residential upper West Side, New Yorkers were stunned and shocked. While there were no official estimates of deaths in the co-ordinated terrorist attack on US soil, with the Pentagon also ripped open by a crashing plane, the losses were feared to be enormous. “This evening is quiet, the peope are dazed. There is anger and there is shock,” says former Ashburton man and New Zealand opera singer Simon O’Neill. Standing on 66th Street right amidst the action, Simon said it was the most beautiful day in New York today but people were wandering in a mix of emotions.

In Brief

“It was the most God-awful day yesterday and I saw it with my own eyes from the Julliard. Buildings collapsing, people running, screaming, burning, it was a frenzy – just awful, horror. We were all keeping an eye out for more planes. We were expecting there would be more.” Simon said he spent most of the day in terror with fellow New Zealand musicians and lawyers. “We just rung around each other and gathered as many as we could and we stayed together with a rental car on hand. There wasn’t much else we could do but we were there for each other.” Simon said the city remained in a state of unease. September 12, 2001

THE EMPIRE IS AT WAR From the Cabinet room in Downing Street, Mr Chamberlain made his announcement to the nation at 11.15 a.m. “The British Ambassdor in Berlin yesterday handed to Herr Hitler a final demand that unless an assurance that troops would be withdrawn from Poland was received by 11 o’clock a state of war would exist. No reply has been received. Consequently, this country is now at war with Germany.

“We have given Poland assurance – France and Britain – that we will carry out our obligations. We had a clear conscience and we did all we could to secure peace. But the position became intolerable and now we are prepared to play our part with confidence and resolution.” Plans had been made to maintain the life and amenities of the people, continued Mr Chamberlain. He asked all to report for duty and to carry out their job.

Without a shadow of doubt Herr Hitler stands condemned for all time as having deliberately and by shameless methods “plunged the world into misery to serve his own senseless ambition.” Herr Hitler’s aim throughout his career as Fuhrer has been to obtain restoration of territory that his country lost as a result of her challenge to the world twenty-five years ago. Had he been content to achieve his purpose by reasonable methods un-

doubtedly he would in due course have received sympathetic consideration, for with the lapse of years there was a growing disposition in Britian, at any rate, to the opinion that some modification of the terms of the Treaty was desirable. But instead of endeavouring to conciliate those countries that imposed the penalties, he sought to gain his purpose by a series of aggressive acts.

Because that’s where we are heading. Big changes sure are exciting and we’ve made more than a few in the last wee while.

Vigilante group to counter thieves A “vigilante” group may be formed to protect Ashburton’s only coin-operated petrol pump from vandals and thieves. This move was suggested by the manager of Gluyas Motors Limited, following damage to the pump by people trying to obtain free petrol. Mr Gluyas said people had tried various forms of theft such as sticking washers, old coins, burred 20 cent pieces, and even key rings into the money slot. August 12, 1975

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Destructive bomb An atomic bomb, more powerful than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. and producing a blast 2000 times greater than the largest bomb previously used, was dropped today on Hiroshima by the United States Army Air Force. Hitherto on the secret lit, the existence of this terrifically destructive bomb was revealed by the President Truman in a statement from the White House. Mr H. L. Simson, Secretary for War, predicted that the bomb would prove a tremendous aid in shortening the war against Japan.

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First flight This morning at 7.45, Captain Euan Dickson arrived over Ashburton, having occupied only 36 minutes on this first stage of his flight from Sockburn aerodrome to Invercargill. Captain Dickson thus gave to Ashburton the first aerial passenger and mail service in its history. A large crowd awaited the arrival of the aeroplane near Tuarangi Home and accorded the aviator and his passengers a hearty welcome.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

AUSTRALIA BEATEN BY MID-CANTERBURY IN THRILLING MATCH

Hundreds of spectators swarmed onto the field to acknowledge Mid-Canterbury’s thrilling win over the touring Australian Rugby team at the Showgrounds Oval yesterday afternoon, and cheers and back-slapping greeted both teams as they made their way toward the grandstand. Mid-Canterbury, in their first international game, beat the Wallabies by 16 points to 10, before a record crowd of five and a half thousand people. In a spontaneous gesture, typical of a team which can play to its capacity on the field, yet retain an air of graciousness off it, the Wallabies held back to let their conquerors lead the way back to the dressing rooms. Back play there was in plenty but for the most part it was ineffective. The Mid-Canterbury backs tacked like Trojans, with the example set by second fiveeighth B. J. Hawkins, and the Wallabies were given no chance to show their true colors from set play. In addition to the deadly tacking of the Mid-Canterbury backs the loose forwards fanned out continuously to present a virtually impenetrable barrier. The match developed into a titanic forward struggle for the greater part, but there were many back movements to give

lustre to the game. Australia dominated the line-outs to a great extent, but the backs could not make use of the clean ball provided. In the scrums Australia conceded one tight head but took two, from local hooker, L. G. Bell. While allowing for the statistical side, by no stretch of the imagination can it be said that the Wallabies dominated or squashed the Mid-Canterbury pack. The Mid-Canterbury front-row of K. G. Doig, L. G. Bell and P. F. Prendergast stood up to everything the Australians could give, even conceding a stone a man, and they dished out some in return. The loose forward trio of H. J. Hanham, A. F. Cornellus and T. P. Bird were devastating in the loose, and the locks R. G. Fraser and L. S. Smith were a tower of strength. Whereas the Australians tended toward individuality in the forwards, the Mid-Canterbury pack hunted and worked as a team throughout the match, and it was this, plus the ability of the local backs from broken play, that proved the deciding factor. The N.Z. Press Association correspondent travelling with the Australian team telegraphed the following report of the match: -

Members of the 1964 team which took on Australia. It will go into the record books that Mid-Canterbury won by 16 points to 10 when they met the touring Australian Rugby Team at the Ashburton Showgrounds yesterday, but it is doubtful that many will want to remember this match in detail. To date the Australians’ tour has been comparatively free of unsportsmanlike tactics and dirty play, but there was a

fearful lot of foul play yesterday. The Australians were prepared to swing a fist with the best, but they were sorely provoked. At first it appeared the game would be one of fast, open back play, but MidCanterbury players became over eager, and it was inevitable a forward, fracas should ensue. August 19, 1964

Ashburton tunes into Commonwealth Games

Ashburton was-on the surface-a “ghost town” yesterday, but a closer look inside shops and stores revealed large groups clustered around television sets. They were tuned into an “event” taking place 50 miles away that was attracting the interest of millions of people

throughout the world–the opening of the Xth British Commmonwalth Games. The streets of the town were almost deserted between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. as hundreds of people crowded into the nearest store that sported a television set, to watch the opening of the games.

Many businesses operated a “rotation system” to enable to leave work for short periods to watch the spectacle on the colour sets installed in a number of stores. At the Ashburton Hotel, the only hotel in town with color TV, dinner guests lingered to watch the Games opening in

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comfort. Many local businesses placed television sets in a discreet place to allow their own staff to view the event, but about half a dozen stores provided colour sets and viewing facilities for the public. January 25, 1974

In Brief Regent Theatre to close The symbol of a passing era – the Regent Theatre will close on September 14, ending many years of movie-going in Ashburton. Movie-going in Ashburton will shortly become a thing of the past when the Regent Theatre closes its doors on September 14. For the past five years, patronage has been dwindling for nighty showings, and according to theatre manager Mr Alistair McIntosh it was only a matter of time before the final okay to shut up shop was given. Efforts by Mid Canterbury people to save the theatre as a community theatre failed, but in early 1988 it appeared the Pacer-Kerridge Corporation intended to keep the theatre open. Pacer-Kerridge head office in Auckland informed Mr McIntosh yesterday that the final decision on the theatre’s fate had been made. Earlier this week the cinema franchise was offered for sale. August 17, 1989 Mufti approved for College Future seventh forms of Ashburton College will not have to wear school uniform in the third term, the board of governors decided last night. After debating the issue for about one and a half hours, the board approved the wearing of optional mufti by seventh formers in the third term of each year with specified standards of dress to be drawn up after consultation between the principals and the student executive. The opinion of parents, pupils and staff has been sought several times and the latest survey apparently shows the majority in favour of seventh form optional mufti for the year. November 21, 1980

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

The birth of the Ashburton Guardian The Ashburton Guardian of today began life in the fledgling riverside town of Ashburton in 1877 as the Ashburton Mail. This tri-weekly morning journal was published for 46 years, but nine months after the first papers rolled off the press, it was joined, on March 12, 1878 by the Evening Echo. This publication, owned by Messrs S.J. Furness and Charles Dixon, ran for a year and then was enlarged under the name of the Ashburton Herald. To its proprietors’ dismay, however, they found the Mail had a loyal following in Ashburton. Undeterred they decided to go head to head with the Mail, publishing a triweekly morning sheet in addition to the Evening Herald. This third paper duly appeared towards the end of September, 1879, under the name of the Ashburton Guardian. The new arrangement lasted a year before the two papers amalgamated as a daily evening paper and the Ashburton Guardian was born on October 12, 1880. That amalgamation coincided with the retirement of its two owners, ushering in five difficult years for the paper where it had a succession of owners. In 1885, Major W. J. Steward (later Sir William Steward) who had a few months earlier bought the Mail, also acquired the control of the Guardian, and removed its plant and effects from West Street to the Mail office, in Burnett Street – the present site. The Ashburton Publishing Co., Ltd published both papers until June 30, 1900, when they were sold to Messrs Robert Bell (then manager of the

Timaru Herald) and H.A. Mackay. That partnership was dissolved on January 31, 1902, and Mr Bell became the sole owner. The papers grew in size. The last enlargement of the old four-page sheet of the “Guardian” was made on October 1, 1907. In 1911, a big forward move was made, and a paper of 56 columns of 21 inches (8 pages of 7 columns each) was published, and the paper was still published at this size until the change to compact format was made in July 2013. The first Ashburton Guardian stated that it intended to be a specifically county paper, devoted to agricultural and pastoral interests. It cost its readers two pence. It was launched with the sweeping statement that it promised that “in politics it will give an honest support to thoroughly liberal measures, and will be loyal to any government, who, having the country’s confidence, is prepared to legislate upon a wise and liberal platform, and is capable of administering public affairs with prudence, honesty, and ability.” New businesses and building provisions were prevalent in the first editions. H. Moffat begged to inform Ashburtonians that his new Wakanui flour mill was open and H. Montgomery said bricks from its new Ashburton kiln were as good as any in New Zealand. Hayes’ Timber Yards on East Street advertised 300,000 feet of superior building timber and 20,000 sawn totara and black pine fencing stakes for sale. Baker and confectioner Edward Taylor opened up, with a 4lb loaf of bread available at the shop at 5½d or 6d

Ashburton’s newspaper history dates back to 1877. delivered. The Ashburton Store advertised itself as the county’s oldest established business in the merchandise sector. William Patching offered specials on tarpaulins, horsecloths, oilskin suits, men’s and boys’ macintoshes, leggings, flax and manila rope, blocks, double and single and flags of all nations.

Hotels also flourished, with the Railway Hotel guaranteeing good accommodation, private suites, the best wines and beers and good stabling and loose boxes. The re-opened Ashburton Central Temperance Hotel advertised weekly board and lodging at £1 or weekly board at 14s, meals at all hours or beds

(single) at 1s. 6d. Thomas Clark opened the Prince Albert Private Hotel in Wills Street near the Railway Station, advising customers he intended to keep good table, affordable comfortable accommodation at moderate charges. The opening of the Waterton Hotel attracted about 200 guests. Many others could not make it because transport was booked up.

100 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR THE FOUNDER OF TODDS – MR A H (ARCHIE) TODD – ARRIVED IN ASHBURTON Archie Todd had served his retail apprenticeship in the drapery trade with Fyfe and Cumming (Dunedin) and as a staff member at Wallace and Co (Gore). He was paid the princely sum of 10 shillings per week until his apprenticeship was finished, when he received a full drapers wage of 2 pound 5 shillings per week. He had spent 11 years with these old London drapers during which time he became qualified in advertising, showcard writing, and window dressing.

In 1914 the family moved to Ashburton where Archie Todd worked for H C Barrett Drapers. This store was situated where the Bank of New Zealand is now. In 1920 Mr Barrett decided to sell the business with the provison that Archie Todd should hold shares in the new firm. With a small amount of capital, plus borrowed money from Mr Barrett to finance the business, Archie Todd formed a company comprising of prominent Ashburton and Christchurch business men and the journey began. In 1933 Archie bought his fellow shareholders out, having had difficulty procuring sufficient capital during the slump period between 1920-1930. In 1937 the old courthouse site became available. To cope with the continued increase in business, Todd’s erected a new store which was opened on September 29th 1938 by H E (Fishy) Herring MP. The store is still situated on its original site, hav-

MR A H TODD

ing undergone many renovations as the retail environment evolved over the years. Archie Todd died December 26th 1975 aged 91, leaving a huge legacy behind him.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Timeline 1877–2013

The Ashburton Mail began production as a tri-weekly morning journal in 1877, while the Guardian began production in 1879. There was plenty of crime back then and it’s clear that public drunkenness is not unique to 21st century Ashburton – along with indecent assault. Then, as now, doctors were hard to come by in Rakaia, with a meeting to discuss the problem. “The delay in obtaining medical attendance from Ashburton – a distance of eighteen miles – is so great, particularly during the night and on Sundays, when no trains run, as in many instances to cause the friends of sufferers to run great risk,” said the meeting’s chairman C.H. McLean T.H Brewer’s Royal Mail Coach left Longbeach for Ashburton (via Waterton, Ashton, Wheatstone, and

Tinwald) daily, at 7.00am. E. Cookson’s mail coach from the Ashburton Railway Station to Green Street, Alford Forest, and Mount Somers, left every Tuesday and Friday. Rates were also an issue in those days, with Chas. Braddell, town clerk, threatening to sue any ratepayers with rates outstanding on October 13. Early reports from the Guardian show that the town was bustling and thriving in the late 1870s. It grew so fast the Fire Brigade had to place an order for another bell that “should make its dreaded sounds audible in any part of the town”. That was because previous bell was “not sufficiently loud in tone to be heard”.

June, 1877 The Ashburton Mail began production as a tri-weekly morning journal. March 12, 1878 The Evening Echo owned by Messrs S.J. Furness and Charles Dixon began production. 1879 The Evening Echo was enlarged under the name of the Ashburton Herald. September, 1879 The Ashburton Guardian began production as a tri-weekly morning sheet to compete with the Ashburton Mail. October 12, 1880 The Ashburton Herald and Ashburton Guardian were amalgamated and began as an evening daily. November, 1882 The company took over new offices attached to the southern side of Messrs H. Matson and Company’s grain stores in West Street. 1885 Major W.H. Steward, M.H.R. who had just purchased The Ashburton Mail, bought The Guardian. June 30, 1900 The Guardian was sold to Messrs Robert Bell and H.A. MacKay. January 31, 1902 The partnership was dissolved and Mr Robert Bell became sole owner. 1902 Girl compositors joined the staff and continued to assist in the production of The Guardian until 1908. April 22, 1907 The linotypes were introduced and a double-feeder Dawson printing machine and mechanical folders were installed. October 1, 1907 The four-page sheet of the Guardian was nine columns per page and remained so until July 1, 1911. 1908 The new brick Burnett Street building was occupied. and the mechanical and composing staff moved in. The wooden front portion was sold and while the new structure was erected the literary and jobbing staffs were located in the building next door and the clerical staff in the Somerset building. July 3, 1911 The paper changed to eight pages of seven columns per page January 1, 1911 The business was formed into

a private limited liability company under the name and style of Ashburton Mail and Guardian Company Ltd. 1929 The Cossar press was installed, capable of printing 16 pages in two operations but when the Great Depression hit the next year, advertising plummeted and papers were rarely larger than eight pages. August 24, 1937 Robert Bell died at the Royal Masonic Hospital in London and was buried at Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland. 1939 The outbreak of war reduced manpower on the home front and with many of the printing staff taking up military service, the commercial printing department was closed in order that production of the newspaper could be maintained. 1950 The advent of the teleprinter news service meant the Guardian could receive news from newspaper offices throughout New Zealand from the New Zealand Press Association’s headquarters in Wellington. News items had previously been keyboarded to Christchurch and then keyboarded and transmitted to the Ashburton Post Office before being dispatched by telegraph messenger to the Guardian office. October 3, 1968 The death occurred of Mr W.B.W. Bell, managing director of the company after 60 years service. He was succeeded by his son, Mr J.M. Bell. November, 1970 The company’s 61-year-old office premises were demolished in November, but the printing department was kept intact. Temporary office premises were acquired nearby. When the new building opened, a German foil-engraving machine was introduced and for the first time in the Guardian’s history, enabled printing blocks of news photographs to be made within a few minutes. 1971 The first staff photographer appointed. August 16, 1975 The Cossar press printed the Guardian for the final time and was donated to the Tinwald Railway and Preservation Society. July 1, 1977 Eight dairy proprietors in the Ashburton Borough became agencies, throw-

out deliveries ceased and letterbox deliveries were instituted. For the preceding 97 years, throw-out deliveries by bicycle, motorcycle or car had been a tradition. August 2, 2003 John Bell died and was succeeded by his son Bruce Bell. March, 2005 Guardian Print takes over the printing of the Timaru Herald in a business deal with Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. October 12, 2005 The Ashburton Guardian company marked its 125th birthday as a daily newspaper by making a $100,000 donation to the fundraising project for the new Ashburton Trust Performing Arts Theatre. April 10, 2006 Guardian Print becomes the only South Island print business to have three daily newspapers rolling off its presses. March 31, 2007 The latest New Zealand Audit Bureau of Circulation results show the Guardian topped the poll nationally, with an annual circulation growth of 2.69 per cent to March 31, 2007. August, 2007 Guardian Print installs a heat set press at the company’s Kermode Street site which allows the company to print on glossy paper. August 13, 2007 The Ashburton Guardian becomes a daily morning paper in one of the biggest changes in the Guardian’s 127-year history. October 25, 2008 The Ashburton Guardian moved from its home of more than 100 years at 119 Burnett Street to new offices on level three of Somerset House. November 1, 2012 The Ashburton Guardian launched its new website www.guardianonline. co.nz becoming the first daily newspaper in New Zealand to put its news behind a paywall, offering its daily news online to subscribers only. July 29, 2013 The Ashburton Guardian changes its newspaper to a compact format, the first daily newspaper in the South Island to make the change.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Bell family continues independence Robert Bell–immigrant becomes publisher

William Bell–running paper during tough war years William Bell may have become the Ashburton Guardian’s heir, but his four brothers also spent time in the family business when their school days were over. He joined the Guardian in the administration area in 1908 as a 16-year-old, becoming company secretary in 1922 and managing director in 1937. He held the latter position until his death in 1968. William’s tenure of the paper included the tough years of World War Two when the paper faced a restriction on paper supplies. That meant a closure of its printing arm and a reduction in paging in the daily paper to just six pages. The great snow of 1945 was a special challenge as the Guardian company battled to produce and deliver the paper. Roads might have been impassible and telephone and power lines down but the Guardian was still published each day. Post war, the Guardian flourished under William’s direction and a strengthening economy saw its size increase. Until the early 1950s the Guardian was published as two editions – a 3pm print time for a country edition and 4pm for the town edition, six days a week. The acceptance of a five day, 40 hour working week as the norm meant the paper was then printed at 3pm Monday to Friday and at 12.30pm on Saturday. He established the rural delivery system in 1960, a 170km circuit from Ashburton to Methven, Rakaia and back. Additional runs were added throughout the 60s. When he died he had completed 60 years with the Ashburton Guardian. He was survived by his wife Emily Oakley and two children John McPeake and Valerie Joy.

Robert Bell was just 20 when, in 1883, he sailed from Glasgow, bound for Townsville, Australia, and a new life. On landing he quickly secured a position as manager of the Townsville Bulletin. He also continued a ship-board romance with fellow immigrant Mary McPeake, who had carved out her own successful business as a milliner. The couple married in November 1885 and decided to move to New Zealand, settling down in Timaru to raise their family. Robert secured a position as sub-manager at the Timaru Herald, becoming manager one year later. Three babies were to die before their first surviving child was born in 1888, with six more following in quick succession. One of those, a twin, William Bell, would eventually become his father’s successor in the newspaper industry. While at the Timaru Herald Robert purchased a partnership interest in Ashburton’s daily newspaper, the Ashburton Guardian and the tri-weekly morning paper, the Ashburton Mail. By 1902 he had acquired full ownership of both newspapers. He continued an active interest in the newspaper industry nationally and internationally and was also for a time part-owner of the Timaru Herald and a director of the Lyttelton Times. Robert was also vice president of the Press Congress of the World in 1916, 1921 and 1926 and presided over the 1931 congress in Mexico city. He died in London in 1937.

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

of Ashburton’s daily newspaper Bruce Bell–the innovator

John Bell–in charge for more than 50 years John Bell took over the reins of the Guardian from his father William, and would also go on to lead the newspaper for more than 50 years. He joined the Guardian in 1943, determined to learn the business from the bottom up. His working life started as a proof-reader, graduating to a position on the clerical staff and eventually moving into the advertising department. Until his death in 2003, he retained a keen interest in the newspaper industry. In 1954, 11 years after joining the staff, John became advertising manager, a position he held until his father’s death in 1968. From 1962 he had been a director of the company and was more than prepared to take over the role as managing director after his father’s death. He would hold this position until his retirement in 1999. While John became the consummate newspaper man, his first love had been engineering. The war years, however, put his plans to study on hold and post war when jobs and money were scarce, the family business proved to be a wise career choice. It was in the technical side of the Guardian that John had an opportunity to indulge his love of engineering, buying new printing presses to speed up the process of publishing the Guardian each day. He also tidied up the rural delivery system his father had put in place and introduced computerised publishing systems to the Guardian. In 1974 he masterminded the planning of the new Guardian building and it was a testament to his meticulous planning that publication of the paper continued uninterrupted while construction took place and staff were spread around Burnett Street in rented offices. During John’s time as managing director, the Guardian achieved its highest readership – 92 per cent. His passion was for the Guardian to be a local paper for the local community. John died in 2003 and is survived by his wife Helen and children Bruce, Alastair and Alison.

The Guardian might have changed since his great grandfather Robert’s day, but its role, to accurately record and report the news of the community without fear or favour, has not. Bruce joined the Guardian as a clerical worker in 1974, later working in advertising sales and then becoming its general manager and now its managing director. With Bruce at the helm, the Guardian would go through some of its most significant changes. In 1993 he established a stand-alone printing business, Guardian Print. In 2002 it became a stand alone business, operating from a new site. Watching that business grow to become a 24-hour-a-day, seven-daya-week printer gave him immense satisfaction, he said. Bruce led the switch to compact format for the Saturday paper in 2000 and this was an instant hit with readers. In 2007 the paper underwent the most significant change in its 117 year history when it changed from an afternoon to a morning publication. There was plenty of risk involved as the move put the paper head-tohead with the Press, but the move paid off in a stronger subscriber base. The launch of www.guardianonline.co.nz in November last year signalled the company’s determination to continue as a leading news organisation, giving its subscribers and casual readers an option of the way in which they received their news. The change, today, to a compact format, six days a week keeps the Guardian in line with the majority of newspapers, worldwide, and sets it up for the future as a strong news organisation that gathers its news locally but delivers it in a variety of formats, Bruce said. The format of the paper might have changed, and its online news presence might be growing but the heart of the Guardian’s business had not changed, he said. “Local news will always be our focus, we’ll continue to be an advocate for the community, but as a news organisation of the future, we’ll be delivering that news in a variety of ways.”

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Life for Mrs MacIntosh in 1879 Ashburton was still in its pioneering days back in 1879 when the first Ashburton Guardian hit the streets on September 27 and we wondered what the town was like in those early days. Through the eyes of fictitious citizen Mrs MacIntosh, Ashburton Museum historian and former Guardian journalist Michael Hanrahan takes us back to that historic day. By Michael Hanrahan Mrs MacIntosh was in a hurry. It was a hot, windy, nor’west day, September 27, 1879. She had to get to the railway station to meet her husband, Andrew, returning from the North Island where he had been for some time visiting his mother. Mrs MacIntosh, Maggie to Andrew, Margaret to family and a few close friends, but otherwise Mrs, had remained in Ashburton because their son Ian had recently started school. Today, before going to meet the train, she had to walk Ian to the school on the Park Street corner, just a short distance along Tancred Street from their house.

Looking West from the railway, across West Street and up Tancred Street in 1878. The tussock-covered area to the right is where the Federated Farmers building is today. Behind that is J R Steel the blacksmith, then Bell’s Western Repository, or livery stable, followed by the home of Frank Guinness, the resident magistrate. Leaving the house they turned right. The strong wind raised swirls of dust from the narrow dirt track that was Tancred Street. She debated whether to walk in the dust, dodging the heaps of horse dung that were more numerous in this part of town because of Mr Bell’s livery stable near their house, or to walk through the tussocks growing either side

of the track. She opted for the tussocks but soon regretted her decision because of the way they caught on her long skirts. A shambling figure came into sight – Kavanagh Macarthy, an inmate of the old men’s home that had recently been established in the old immigration barracks in Short Street. She dreaded meeting him – he was always drunk, even in

the morning, and often appeared before their neighbour Frank Guinness, the Resident Magistrate. The old man shuﬄed past in the dusty track without acknowledging them. Still in Tancred Street, they walked past St Stephen’s Anglican Church. The masons were busy with additions to the church, built only three years ear-

lier and already enlarged once. There was a constant ringing of iron on iron as the men chiselled the huge blocks of Mount Somers limestone into shape. Leaving Ian at the school on the corner she turned along Park Street. Crossing Burnett Street she glanced left to where the little wooden Roman Catholic church, St Augustine’s, stood near the

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Although taken much later, this view of grain stores lining West Street would not have been a lot diﬀerent to the view in 1879.

The block of East Street between Burnett and Tancred streets. At left is Prospect Buildings, later destroyed by ﬁre, then Thomas Bullock’s auction rooms, with the Union Bank of Australia near the Tancred Street corner. Note the tussocks in the street, especially where the East Street green is today. street. She couldn’t help thinking about the building materials used for the churches – stone for one, wood for another and the church she attended, St Andrew’s Presbyterian in Havelock Street, built five years earlier of the new material, concrete. Wood was the main building material in Ashburton, but she wondered if more permanent materials would not soon replace it. Seven years earlier Ashburton’s population was only 20 but once the railway arrived in 1872 the population grew until there were now almost a thousand. Only a year earlier it had become possible to travel all the way to Dunedin

by train in just one day. The town now really deserved the name ‘Mushroom of the Plains’ some gave it. “It was no wonder wood is used for the buildings,” Mrs MacIntosh thought. “It’s quick and cheap, even if there is a huge fire risk. Turning right into Havelock Street she hurried past St Andrew’s, the only building in the whole block apart from a couple of cottages. Before the railway crossing she turned into West Street, another dusty track wandering through the tussock. However, just before the railway station there was a bridge over the rail lines – steps up, a short stretch to the other side, more steps down and she was on the platform, none too early. The big flashy Yankee locomotive

with the name of a long dead American president on the side of its cab drew the short train of carriages to a halt. The crowd on the platform was added to by the alighting passengers, the confusion increased by those boarding. Among it all she saw Andrew and rushed to greet him. The crowd began to clear but the noise continued, the loudest coming from the shouts of a small boy selling newspapers. Wanting to catch up on the town’s news Andrew bought one, only to find it was a paper he had never heard of. “The Guardian,” he said to Maggie. “What’s this? What’s happened to the Herald?” “It’s the new paper, just started today,” she replied. “The Herald still comes out

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The Ashburton County Council oﬃces in Baring Square East. every night, this one is three times a week in the morning.” “I don’t know why they have to keep changing. It’s not long ago and we had the Echo, then it became the Herald, now we’ve got the Guardian. Some of them are sure to die.” “But they’re all published by the same man. Mr Weeks felt the town needed a morning paper,” Maggie told him. Leaving the platform they went straight across East Street, ignoring the clouds of dust raised by the wind and the passing horses. Andrew grumbled about having to dodge the frequent heaps of horse manure that littered the street. “You’d think some of the small boys would be glad to pick it up for some

pocket money. They can do it in Glasgow, why not here?” Their difficulties were made worse when they had to jump across a partly filled trench where the new gas pipes had been recently laid. Andrew grumbled again, this time about what he saw as poor workmanship. To their left was the huge bulk of a two-storey wooden building on the Wills Street corner. It had just been built by Saunders Brothers, the people who also owned the flour mill. Most of its rental space was spoken for, including a large area taken by Weeks and Dixon where the Herald and Guardian were published.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

The Trust: From the beginning Alcohol might be just a part of life in the Ashburton District today, but for many years its consumption was banned in Ashburton. In the early years hotels and bars were seen as a useful institution where men could gather for social intercourse. However, there was also ongoing criticism of the effects of alcohol on pioneering families, with allegations that men were spending more in one night on grog than their families spent in a month on food. Hotel bar rooms were on borrowed time with the temperance and no licence movements combining their strength to force the closure of all Ashburton hotel bars on June 30, 1903. At that time there were six hotels in the town, with others in Tinwald, Mt Somers and Hinds. Two hotels in Methven and Rakaia and one at Chertsey were not included in the licence ban. Prohibition saw rapid increase in the number of sly-grog shops - and in traffic between Ashburton and Chertsey. In 1949 a vote for restoration was taken and exceeded the three fifths majority needed. That vote came with the condition licences would be restored to hotels, but that they would be run under community management through a licensing trust. That decision saw the birth of the Ashburton Licensing Trust in early 1950 with a six-member board elected. The first decade was difficult as the trust battled to make money and gain public acceptance. The trust’s fortunes began to turn with its first return of funds to the community in 1961, with a 300 pound donation to the Sports Hall.

The Ashburton Licensing Trust board from 1980 Back row, from left: N. D. Truman, A. J. Srhoy, A. J. Todd, D. B. Moon, B. M. Davidson, B. E. Bain. Front: C. Moody and R. J. Conway. In its first 17 years of operation the trust had achieved a total turnover of $8,396,814. In 1969 it started work on the biggest project in its history, one that would become its flagship venue, the Hotel Ashburton. As dining out became a more com-

monplace occurrence, the trust’s liquor monopoly began to irk independent entrepreneurs who wanted to establish their own restaurants, outside of trust control. The first to break the trust stranglehold were Marion and John Gardiner with their Mona Square restaurant Chandler House. Diners were able to

buy alcohol on the premises, an option previously only available at trust outlets. In 1983 clouds were gathering on the horizon indicating the good times would not last. The late 1980s were tough. The trust not only had to deal with a struggling economy, it was also again dealing with public criticism over alleged secre-

tiveness of its activities and an inadequate return of funds to the community. Alcohol started to become available in some supermarkets after the passing of the 1989 Sale of Liquor Act, but because Ashburton was a licensing trust area this option was not available. But it was not until November 20,

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THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

East Street in 1916 with Somerset Corner. 2004, 54 years after it was formed, the Ashburton Licensing Trust lost its monopoly on liquor sales in Ashburton. The first supermarket liquor sales were made in January 2005. The trust emerged as a profitable organisation that continued with its original philosophy of returning money every year to the community. That business model saw it open new

businesses, reinvent existing business and become a high-profile, high-performing business. The history of the trust can’t be seen in isolation – its genealogy is closely aligned to that of the Ashburton community and is linked to that of the Guardian. As the Guardian moves to a new look and feel with the tabloid layout, the trust too continues to identify

new opportunities and make changes. Since its inception, the trust has returned more than $14 million to the Ashburton District. Exciting plans are in the pipeline for the Trust, with the ongoing refurbishment of Hotel Ashburton planned to continue over the next few years. The next phase will see all accommodation rooms refurbished to a four star stand-

ard, and along with the recent full upgrade of the function facilities, the Hotel will continue to be the premier accommodation and functions venue in Mid Canterbury for many years to come. Speights Ale House has always been a very popular dining and socialising option for the Ashburton community. After suffering damage in the September 2010 earthquake, the exterior of

the building has now been repaired and renovated. Within the next few months, the interior of the venue will also be upgraded and refurbished, to a new, more modern look that is being rolled out across all Speights Ale Houses around the country.

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Since 2003, the buildings (formerly home to the New Zealand Sock Company and Grieve Transport) have been owned by Medifab, an innovative, award-winning company which manufactures leading-edge postural support solutions that assist people of all ages with disabilities to live better, more comfortable lives. "Shaping better lives" is Medifab's mission statement and is something the team are really passionate about. The firm was founded in Auckland in the early 1990s and shifted to Ashburton 11 years ago. Since then it has grown from a small family-owned and operated business, to a corporate entity with a fast-growing global market.

of specialised systems to protect a disabled person's body shape as they sleep.

"I especially get a thrill from helping disabled children, as there is usually a snowball effect to the parents, caregivers and therapists. Sometimes the simplest things, such as the child and their parents getting more sleep because of our products, can make such a big difference."

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If you've ever wondered what goes on inside the red buildings on Allens Road, you might be surprised to learn it is work that helps thousands of people around the world with physical challenges.

and distributing products that make a difference to peoples' lives.

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Reaching special needs globally from the heart of Canterbury

Mike joined Medifab 11 years ago as its first Ashburton employee, and now works alongside a team of over 20 staff.

The company's flagship products also include the Shuttle Discovery Stroller "We have a great mix of people and an inclusive, & Seating System. This fully functioning r supportive environment. We are always looking to he g positioning system for young children with in innovate and improve and everyone is encouraged to joy severe disabilities has the aesthetic appeal Aroha is en share their ideas." of the best regular buggies on the market, "We Mike says the Medifab team is a real strength of the business, understand it can be quite confronting for parents of special and there are always opportunities for people with "the right needs children with physical challenges to accept some kind of skill set" to join the fast-growing company.

"Shaping better lives" is Medifab's mission statement and is something the team are really passionate about.

In addition to designing and manufacturing its own products, Medifab is also a New Zealand distributor for a range of innovative postural support products from overseas.

support or mobility aid, so the better they feel about a product and how it looks, the more likely they are to embrace it and use it."

Each day a volume of product packed into cartons leave dispatch, however Medifab's staff don't call these "boxes", instead they refer to each "box" as a "life" that Medifab has improved somewhere. Our staff understand every product they make will enhance someone's wellbeing, which is something we all find very satisfying.

The Discovery seat can also be switched seamlessly from the buggy frame to a special high chair base for feeding, a low nursery base for playing, or a rocking base to soothe and relax the child.

"We are exploring the possibility of moving to a new, purposebuilt building in the new business estate."

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"Our postural support products have been helping people throughout New Zealand and Australia for some time. We are now also working steadily in the UK and Ireland; and have just started exporting to Portugal, with further growth developing across the rest of Europe, UAE and Asia pacific."

With the proposed new Allenton Medical Centre mooted for Medifab's current site, Mike says the company is considering some exciting expansion plans in Ashburton.

www.medifab.com

Phone +64 3 307 9790

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Medifab recently won a prestigious international award for the Shuttle Discovery, when it took out the commercial category at the Better Technology Awards, Medifab designs and manufactures a range funded by the National Committee on en i of products providing 24 hour postural care, ed Rehabilitation Engineering in Australia. is M rea n i which includes its Spexâ„˘ and Spexâ„˘ Kidz range of dy rld, to tak e on the wo wheelchair seating systems with adjustable cushions, Mike Moore, the company's factory team leader says its backrests and postural accessories; and the CareWave agency "tightknit team" gets a lot of satisfaction from manufacturing Fax +64 3 307 2820 Email solutions@medifab.com

Careers www.medifab.co.nz/career-opportunities

Shaping better lives